Racing in the West continues on Saturday in what could turn out to be an absolute fill-up for punters that love a favourite!
We’ve analysed the entire nine-race card and offer our best bets in our 2020 Belmont Guineas Day Tips & Preview below.
William Pike can get his day off to a fast start aboard odds-on favourite Western Rhythm in the first at Belmont on Saturday.
The three-year-old filly by Sessions settled mid-field on debut a fortnight ago to hit the line for second down the middle of the straight. It was an eye-catching run and she should appreciate the 1400m now if the track stays firm.
Mr Delegator comes out of the same race where he was the beaten favourite running fourth.
He maps to go forward again, but he might enjoy a softer run in transit away from the fence this time around.
Reign Of Fire won comfortably by just under five lengths on debut a fortnight ago over the 1200m, and with only the 1kg claim of Jordan Turner on board, there’s nothing to suggest he can’t make it two-from-two.
Seven Kingdoms gets William Pike again on the short backup.
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained two-year-old was late on the scene for fifth on debut over the 1000m last week. He’s drawn the inside gate this time and around and should be seen doing his best work late yet again.
Pike again holds the keys to this race aboard promising odds-on favourite Showmanship.
The Kiwi galloper is shooting for a hat-trick following his five-length win over the track and distance a fortnight ago, and with even luck, he looks almost impossible to beat again as he continues to glide through the grades.
If you are looking to bet against him, Fred Dag is probably the one.
The four-year-old won back-to-back races last Winter at Belmont, and while he’s yet to find the winner’s circle since returning, he should appreciate the step up to a distance he’s won at twice before.
Kay Cee is a proven commodity when it comes to winning feature races, so it’s no surprise to see the three-year-old filly as the short-priced favourite second-up on Saturday.
The daughter of Playing God won the Group 1 Kingston Town at Ascot back in December and has since returned to the races to win the Listed Raconteur Stakes (albeit narrowly) a fortnight ago at Belmont.
She clocked some outstanding sectionals last time out, so the step up to the mile looks no query in this rather small field.
Lavverod posed a challenge to Kay Cee in the Raconteur and he is more than capable of replicating that performance carrying the same weight from an almost identical gate – although it’s worth noting this is his first look at the mile.
Karijini Aurora might be one the each-way hope based on the way she finished for third in the Raconteur.
The Summer Dickson-trained filly won three straight prior to that run and, two of which came under four-time Belmont Guineas winner, William Pike.
The lightly-raced Bright Diamond is looking to remain undefeated after back-to-back wins under William Pike, and while this is a step up in class, she maps to get the run of the race from barrier 2 with the lightweight.
Mood Swings is perhaps over the odds based on the way he’s raced since winning on debut at Bunbury over the 1000m back in May.
The three-year-old son has run a place in all three of his race starts to date and now drops 3.5kg following his last start third over the track and distance.
Boomtastic looks to have returned in good order after winning first-up in a 3YO Handicap over the 1000m a fortnight ago.
She won’t have William Pike on board this time, but apprentice Chloe Azzopardi should have a good feel for the horse after riding her to a place last time in over the 1200m at Ascot.
Punters have a chance to get their money back on Son of a God after he failed to fire two weeks ago as the favourite in a Benchmark 66 over the 1000m.
There were excuses for the three-year-old coming off a seven-week let-up, so you have to think he’ll be back to his brilliant best – even with Chloe Azzopardi replacing William Pike.
Kiwi sprinter Pearls and Prawns is a perfect two-from-two first-up, but he will have to overcome the top weight with Pike on board from a tricky gate.
Sir Mambo rarely runs a bad race over this distance, but he too has a tricky draw with plenty of weight on his back.
This looks to be one of the more open betting races of the day with all eyes on the returning King Blitz at value in the market.
The six-year-old has quickly become a crowd favourite as he now returns from a 51-day let up.
Last time we saw him he was winning right on the line over the 1800m at Ascot back in April, but if he brings his best to the races on Saturday, he could easily win by more than that over the mile under apprentice Laqdar Ramoly.
Son Of Bacchus is the next best in the market and we already know he’s much better than his latest run suggests.
The four-year-old was pretty ordinary finishing 7 of 16 last month over the mile, but he was on the short backup that day and is worth a look here coming off with three weeks in between starts.
Wrinkly is also tough to fault having found the placings in three of his last five starts, while Touch Of Silver has to be respected with three wins over the mile to his name.
There’s plenty going on in this race, but it’s still difficult to get away from the favourite Western Pride.
The four-year-old remains unbeaten in four starts to date and she couldn’t have been more impressive winning first-up over the 1300m a fortnight ago.
This is obviously a much tougher race, but barring a botch job by William Pike, she should go forward and prove too strong in the end.
No Apology rates as the best of the backmarkers coming out of the same race as Western Pride last start.
He ran on from the wide gate that day, but he’s drawn barrier 3 this time dropping 2kg under Sean McGruddy. Look for him late.
Pike can close out the day for favourites punters in a big way if he rides Massimo to a win on Saturday.
The three-year-old son of Sessions has strung together three consecutive runner-up performances, but this does look the right race for him now dropping back in distance.
Prim and Proper should settle mid-field looking to also erase a string of runner-up performances herself.
The three-year-old filly has found the placings in four of her five starts over this distance, and from barrier 4, she should enjoy a lovely run into the race just like she did a fortnight ago under apprentice Beaux Banovic-Edwards.
She doesn’t discriminate on wet or dry tracks, so the $5.00 about her at time of publish looks great value.
No. 12 Prim and Proper